The Real Reason the Queen Has 2 Birthdays

Queen Elizabeth turned 92 years old on April 21, but if you’re the monarch of England, you don’t get just one birthday: you get two. In addition to commemorating her actual day of birth in April, Queen Elizabeth is also treated to a massive national celebration in honor of her special day every June. The hard-working queen, who rings in each new year with family, tends to take her birthday off.

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The summertime celebration, though, is a bigger party. The June event is referred to as Trooping the Colour, an annual parade in London in which troops from the queen’s Household Division parade on horses down London’s Whitehall Street. There is music, and the queen conducts an inspection of the troops. The date changes depending on the year’s calendar; in 2018, Queen Elizabeth’s official birthday is Saturday, June 9.

There is a long tradition of monarchs celebrating their birthdays in the Summer. The date in June is usually selected when there’s a better chance of good weather, something the Brits appreciate greatly during the warmer months. So all you have to do to celebrate your bithday in a socially acceptable manner? Be queen.